Is a seller required to reveal that a suicide was committed inside the home?
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Is a seller required to reveal that a suicide was committed inside the home?
Suspected, not revealed? Also, the home has been broken into.
Asked on November 21, 2011 under Real Estate Law, Georgia
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
There is no general affirmative obligation to provide information that a suicide had been committed inside the home or that the home had been broken into--i.e., you don't need to volunteer this information.
However, if a prospective buyer specifically inquires into either factor and indicates that it is important to him or her, if you then fail to disclose or actively lie, you may be committing fraud by withholding or misrepresenting what this buyer has indicated is material (important) information. So if someone says, "I believe in ghosts, and could never live in a home where a tragedy happened," or "I'm very security-conscious; has there ever been a break in or assault at this home," then you should disclose what occured.
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